SERVING UP SMILESMembers of BPD serve up smiles (and songs) to raise donations for Special Olympics

Berkeley, California (Thursday, August 19, 2010) - On Thursday, August 19, members of the City of Berkeley Police Department are once again participating in Tip-a-Cop. Tip-a Cop is another in a series of fundraisers for Special Olympics of Northern California. The event is being held at Skates on the Bay in the Berkeley Marina from 5 to 9 p.m.

BPD personnel, including Chief Michael K. Meehan, will be wearing their uniforms and supporting the wait staff at the restaurant to earn "tips" that will directly benefit the athletes of Special Olympics. In addition, a lively rendition of "Happy Birthday" will be sung by the BPD officer group to any diner(s) and any table who may be celebrating a birthday that evening.Skates on the Bay has supported BPD for half a decade with this entertaining fundraiser. Last year, the collaboration raised $4,500 at Tip-a-Cop 2009.

So far this year, BPD’s participation in Special Olympics fundraising has resulted in $5,500 of donations during their June 23 leg of the Torch Run. BPD Officer Tim Kaplan then committed to doing a new fundraiser called "Over the Edge" on July 24: a 38-story rappel off the San Francisco Hyatt, for which he generated over $1,800 in pledges for the cause.

Chief Meehan said of Special Olympics and this week’s Tip-a-Cop, "The women and men of BPD that participate in all of these events demonstrate another form of special service to the community, in this case, literally."

For more information about Special Olympics fundraising events and the Special Olympians who benefit, please visit http://www.sonc.org.